Super Eagles legend blasts current Nigerian footballers for being disrespectful 

Super Eagles legend, Sunday Oliseh, has slammed the current generation of Nigerian players, accusing them of lacking respect for their predecessors.

The controversy follows a social media outburst by Victor Osimhen, which has highlighted a disconnect between the older and newer generation of Nigerian internationals.

Oliseh, who was a key figure in Nigeria’s famed “Class of 94,” expressed his concerns during an interview with Nigerian journalist, Matthew Edafe on Elegbete TV. He believes that the current players, as well as those from the 2010s, do not show the same reverence to their predecessors as his generation did.

“It boils down to respect,” Oliseh said. “The current generations, the ones who see themselves as stars, have little respect for those who came before them. Especially those who came before them that are bigger than them.”

Oliseh recounted how his generation always showed deference to the players from the 1980s, such as Segun Odegbami and Christian Chukwu, by using respectful titles like “Big Sheg” and “Chairman.” He shared a personal anecdote where, despite feeling hurt by a critical article written by Odegbami, he chose to address the issue privately and respectfully.

“Not every generation is like that,” Oliseh continued. “Nobody from my generation ever calls the 1980s generation by name. Like you see Mr. Segun Odegbami, we don’t call him Segun or Odegbami; we call him Big Sheg.”

Oliseh further emphasised that the respect his generation had for their predecessors was a significant factor in their unity and success. He lamented the lack of such respect among the newer players, attributing it to their limited achievements compared to those of legends of the past.